Historically, temperature meat probes have always been connected to wires. This is not ideal for smokers and grills with wire routing or worn felt gaskets around the lid. The probes and wires need to be cleaned and can get in the way of other things on your grill if you don’t plan their placement properly. These temperature probes are still effective, they work great and they produce reliable information. But the MEATER is equally effective and simplifies everything about using a meat thermometer. This is certainly worth considering when your are purchasing your next meat thermometer.
As with everything, technology has allowed for innovation and simplicity. Do you remember when your kitchen telephone had a long cord that used to get tangled in everything? Do you remember when you got a cordless phone and were pumped that you didn’t have to deal with that cord anymore. This is basically the same feeling, but with BBQ thermometers.
The ideal choice for indoor and outdoor cooking enthusiasts. MEATER Plus is 100% wire-free, allowing you to cook with complete freedom and flexibility.
- 150' Range
- Wire Free
- User Friendly App
Leveled up tech, durability, and specs, all packaged in a thinner probe.
With Flame Guard design, the probe's ambient temperature limit is 1000°F. Open fire grilling, deep frying, high heat searing... the world is yours. The latest in Bluetooth technology to give you extended range and more freedom from your grill. Five internal sensors help you find the true lowest temperature of the meat. Fast Charge Technology 5 minutes for a 2-hour cook. 15 minutes for a 12-hour cook.
Longer Range: With built-in Bluetooth to WiFi range extension, you can keep tabs on your food from up to 165ft away. And if you prefer to cook without your smart phone, our Stand-Alone Mode has got you covered.
Meater PLUS Overview and Specs
I have owned the MEATER Plus for just over two years and I didn’t realize how valuable a constant record of your cook would be. This product relays both the meat and the ambient temperature from its wireless probe right to your phone. You can easily set a temperature alarm or check the temperatures on your app to see how your meat is doing. This is extremely valuable because it removes the need to open the lid to check, helping keep that potentially elusive constant cooking temperature in your grill.
The MEATER markets itself as the first wireless BBQ thermometer and as a trend setter in the BBQ industry. It is obvious that MEATER is a top notch company, their online content is vast and very well produced. Anyone new to the BBQ game could simply buy a MEATER, watch their YouTube channel and produce quality BBQ meals.
The price is a reasonable around $100usd, and is noticeably at the higher end of wireless products. This is mostly due to the integration of the smartphone app and the simplicity of the single probe, dual reading thermometer.
Meater Company Overview
The manufacturer of Meater probes is Appation Labs. They are basically three buddies that have a ton of experience in both hardware and software engineering. In 2015, Joseph Cruz, Teemu Nivala and Dauson Chang were hanging out at a BBQ and drinking scotch. They started talking about how to find solutions for everyday problems/inconveniences. They used this model to help develop smarter consumer products that are connected to the internet and controlled by mobile devices. This was how the MEATER, the best wireless cooking thermometer, was created.
In July of 2021, newly publicly traded company, Traeger Grill Company (COOK) acquired Meater. Now you can find Traeger embedding the Meater devices into their new Traeger Timberline XL model line.
Meater PLUS Specifications
Probe
Bluetooth | LE 4.0 wireless connection |
Max internal temp | 212 ℉ (meat) |
Max ambient temperature | 525 ℉ (cooker) |
Materials | Stainless steel, ceramic |
Dimensions | 130mm in length and 6mm diameter |
Battery | Rechargeable, 24hr usage time |
Dishwasher safe | Probe only |
Charger
Bluetooth | Built in repeater, extends range by 50m |
Storage | Case included that also charges probe |
Efficiency | Charges up to 100 times with one AAA battery |
Charge status | LED indicator light |
Dimensions | 157mm L x 37mm W x 28mm H |
Phone App Requirements
- iPhone and iPad apps for iOS 10.3 and later
- Android app for versions 5.0 and later
Meater PLUS Real World Performance
Temperature Checks
The MEATER is best used for long cooks and as a result is left in the meat during the whole cook. Unlike instant thermometers that pride themselves on the speed and accuracy of their readings, the MEATER uses constant temperature readings. These readings are collected and tabulated into a graph that represents the temperature over time.
The MEATER plus also has the option of setting temperature alerts for your grill or the meat. The MEATER app will alert you when either temp crosses the temperature threshold that you have previously set.
Meater PLUS Display
The display for the temperature readings for the MEATER plus is connected via bluetooth to the app on your mobile device. There are several options within this app on how to file your information. The color coded sections, real time graphs and the set up screen are all very clear and provide the meat, target and ambient temperature. The display is backlit in black and the color contrast looks modern and clean.
Meater PLUS compared to Competition
There is very little in terms of competition for this type of thermometer. The MEATER is the gold standard for wireless temperature gauges. Other companies, like Thermoworks have a very impressive product (the Signals), but it’s not entirely wireless like the MEATER. So I would put them in two separate categories. Recently on the block, Meatstick, INKBIRD and ThermoPro have launched completely wireless thermometers.
ThermoWorks Signals
There are other companies that are wireless, but their screens may not be able to connect to your phone or have a weak or dull display and simply do not look as good. I believe the MEATER is the top of its class, but the rest of the members of that class don’t seem to be trying very hard.
Overall Fit and Finish
Materials
The MEATER probe is a stainless steel shaft and a ceramic base. The heat temperature gauge for the meat is embedded 1/4 of the way up from the point. There is a little line on the probe to show you how far you have to insert it to read effectively.
The ceramic top houses the ambient sensor and the charging contact point is at the very end. This is also where the antenna is, which sends information to your repeater box and your phone. This is the long way of saying that it’s the size of a pen and the fancy parts are at the top.
The box it sits in when it is not in use is made of bamboo and comes in two colors, sugar brown and honey. The charging box is also the repeater box in the MEATER Plus. This pushes the Bluetooth range to about 150+ feet. The original MEATER has a 30′ range.
Ergonomics
The MEATER Plus is a sleek little unit. The whole package is smaller than your TV remote. It is easy to use and is far less cumbersome than any wired thermometers. Frankly, it reminds me of a James Bond weapon, but in this case all it really does is take great temperature readings and sends it to your phone. But it sure looks good doing it.
Thoughts and Opinions
Once you have picked what you are cooking from the options provided, the MEATER tells you a ton of information. My favorite is the approximate time until cooked countdown.
Another option that is really useful is the cook set up. You just pick what you are cooking and it will set up the alert and temperature options for you. Here is an example for a pork butt.
Meater PLUS Features
Wireless Functionality
Every MEATER product is wireless. The connection distance is relative to the type of MEATER you have. The Original is the most affordable but its range is limited to 30′. The Plus has an extended bluetooth range to 150′ and the Block has up to 4 more probes and can connect to wifi so you are always able to very your grill temperatures. This is a sweet option but will cost you around $300 so it’s a pretty significant upgrade.
The simplicity of the app and bluetooth connection makes the MEATER plus a very reliable thermometer for home use.
Alert Options
The MEATER has alert options that you set for yourself. For example, if you don’t want your grill temp dropping below 225℉ or over 250℉ your phone will buzz and alert you if your grill is reaching one of those thresholds. This is really helpful in an overnight cook. Just set your alert and if your grill temp starts fluctuating, you will be notified so you can adjust it.
Cook Graphs and Charts
The data collected from the MEATER plus is presented effectively on graphs that show the ambient and meat temperature and is accurate to .5℉. This data is stored in the cloud and through the use of the Advanced Estimator Algorithm, the MEATER estimates how long to cook and rest your food to help plan your meal and manage your time. This is an extremely helpful tool and I use it every time I use my grill.
All Cooks Saved on Cloud
All of your cooks are saved in the cloud and accessible within your MEATER app. This is helpful for looking back on that great beef brisket you made so you can replicate it. It’s also helpful to look back at the time you ruined a great piece of pork. Regardless of how the cook went, there will be a record of it.
MEATER has a wonderful online presence; they have a YouTube channel and both an Instagram and Tiktok account (@meatermade) that continuously add new recipes, cooking ideas and other picture and video content.
Ownership Experience
Meater PLUS Problems
I have not had any concerns with the way the MEATER plus collects and presents information. My only real issue is that this particular thermometer doesn’t connect to the WIFI without a second device and the Bluetooth doesn’t quite reach the front of my house. This is a solvable problem, I could simply get the MEATER Block or enable the Meter Link system and it would work. But, I just wish the Plus had an extra few meters on the Bluetooth repeater, it would be helpful for my particular situation.
Meater Customer Service and Support
I have never contacted customer support for anything, but their website has three options to help you if you have questions. See this link for details https://support.meater.com/ . Not knowing a company’s customer service department is a good thing.
Meater PLUS Warranty
The warranty and return policy is pretty straight forward. There is a warranty on parts, materials, and workmanship for one (1) year if purchased in the USA and (2) years outside of the USA from the date of purchase. Overall, quite standard for the product and industry.
Would we recommend the MEATER plus?
What we like……
- Wireless
- Easy to interpret data
- Accurate
- Algorithm for estimated time remaining and rest time
- Set up for each cook is easy and you always know your target temperature
- Long battery life and charges quickly
- Looks pretty fancy
What makes us angry……
- Meater Link isn’t overly easy to set up and use regularly.
- Bluetooth extension could be a little further
Our final verdict
The MEATER Plus is amazing. The way it collects data and stores it in your app is effective and useful. If you are looking for a wireless thermometer that connects to an app, this is the only choice. It’s worth it. If you need more than one probe, you can get the MEATER Block. Otherwise you should consider a wired option.
It’s the only option for rotisserie cooks which never had an option for temperature monitoring before. Finally a solution for rotisserie cooks.
If you are set on wireless, buy a MEATER product. Just make sure you pick the one that is right for your situation. Honestly, for the extra couple bucks, the MEATER plus is worth it over the MEATER classic. Overall, I am very impressed with this product and I have not found another wireless thermometer that has all the benefits the MEATER has. The online community and effective technology has proven that MEATER is at the top of the wireless thermometer community.
Checkout our review of the new truly wireless dual probe competitor from ThermoPro, or their single probe unit.
Your comment that the Plus is difficult to set up is wrong. It’s impossible to set up. Got mine yesterday. Invested probably four hours of setup time. No joy. Support from Meater is non existent. Sending it back Monday.
Sorry to hear that Dan. Did you try calling them for help?
Cheers,
Michael
Great review! I’ve been considering getting the Meater PLUS, and your insights about its range and accuracy really help. Love the idea of monitoring my meat without being tethered to a cable. Thanks for sharing your experience!
Great review! I’ve been looking for a reliable wireless thermometer, and the Meater PLUS sounds like exactly what I need for my BBQ sessions. I love the idea of the Bluetooth connectivity and the app integration. Thanks for sharing your insights!